We are constantly trying to stabilize ourselves on a ship that is being tossed around in a storm at sea. Rather than go with the flow, we try to make life predictable, which feels safe. I remember seeing a cartoon that summed up for me how unpredictable life can be.

It was a picture of the corner of a brick building. Coming from the right is a peanut vendor, with his tray of peanuts hanging from his neck as he calls out, “Peanuts for sale.” To the left, pressed up against the side of the building, lying in wait, is an elephant.

You never know what is waiting around the corner, but you can be sure that it will be something you didn’t expect or plan for.

The homeless Bulgarian who decapitated a British woman in Tenerife yesterday thought he was 'a prophet of god', it emerged today.

Local mayor José Reverón said the 28-year-old man was a bizarre individual who was known to police and had a history of intimidating passers-by on the street for yesterday's horrifying attack.

Deyan Valentinov was reportedly released from a psychiatric hospital in February and had a history of violent behaviour before brutally killing the 62-year-old Briton in a shopping centre in Los Cristianos yesterday.He was reportedly admitted to the psychiatric unit after knocking a stranger's teeth out on the street.As Mayor Reverón said the incident was 'the most horrific crime to hit the resort in recent years', questions were raised about why Spanish authorities had allowed the attacker to wander the streets.

After the attack, the man reportedly ran out into the street covered in blood, carrying his victim's head and telling passers-by: 'This is my treasure'. He also shouted: 'God is on Earth,' according to local news site CanariasalDia.com, quoting Mayor Reverón, who said the killer lived in a 'semi-abandoned' house.

Wine merchant David Scott, 41, said the attacker spent most days sitting 50 yards from the scene of the attack 'talking to himself and gesticulating wildly'.'He was very disturbed and intimidating, the sort of person you would cross the road to avoid,' he added.